Running in the Shadows- RESPONSE

Many stories have been told for years of child sex trafficking across the world. One of these stories was plastered across the New York Times this week for all of the Earth to see. I just wish all the world had seen it. The tale is about a young girl named Nicole, age fourteen, who ran away from her home and was forced to take refuge with the price of sex. Nicole is now seventeen and free of the men, but never of the horrors. Nicole says that at times she would be threatened if she would not have sex with the men to be thrown out of the streets. What I, as many other people, have trouble grasping is the fact that streets in these parts are death traps. Thus Nicole, as many others, was ordered to choose between death or rape. Nicole was in this hell for fourteen months until she finally made an escape from the pimp who held her captive in his garage, as only a sick human being would. At first Nicole believed that this horrible man loved her and that they were a couple. It eventually became apparent that their relationship was much more (or less) than that.

Studies have shown that about 1.6 million children run away from their homes each year. Two thirds of these children return to their homes within a week. That last one third number is what’s most important though. That last one third are the ones who become child prostitutes. This means that over 533,333 children are almost undoubtedly forced, sold, or willingly brought into prostitution each year. These adolescents trade their innocence for food, money, drugs, a place to say, or their lives. And consequently they become half living shadows. Many of these minors wind up in an abusive relationship which makes it even harder for them to leave the streets. 

Although many laws have been passed to help this, teenage prostitutes are usually seen as teenage criminals rather than the underage victims they truly are. Another important note to think about is how much this criminalistic* job has grown over the last few years. Why? The internet! A detective stated one of her alarming thoughts on this matter; “ ‘ Gangs used to sell drugs, now many of them have shifted to selling girls because it’s just as lucrative but far less risky’ ”. Why should selling human beings be less risky than trading a plant?!

As the economy is stuck in tight holes, places where children are cared for afterward their captivity are disappearing. States are continuing to cut programs and services such as the; mental health services, child welfare agencies, and residential programs where the children can receive counseling that many adolescents rely on. After living in prostitution children learn to trust no one. This usually results in difficulties with authorities and the minor committing crimes. Where does lead them? Back on the street. And thus our county, nay, our world is stuck in a never ending circle of hell.

*word does not exist in traditional english

Running in the Shadows- NOTES

>after running away from her home Nicole took refuge with a man whose price was sex

>Nicole was 14 and is now 17

>Nicole was threatened and consequently forced to have sex

-the streets were death traps, she had the choice between sex and death

>Just after her first money for sex deal her prostitution spiked up and held on for 14 miserable and hell like months

>Nicole escaped last year from the pimp who held her captive in his garage

>Nicole at first believed that this pimp loved her and that they were a couple

-it eventually came thru though that their relationship was much more (or less) than that

>1.6 million children run away

-the vast majority of those return home within a week

-but those who do not  almost 1/3) are almost undoubtedly forced, sold, or willingly brought into       prostitution

>children trade sex for food, money, drugs, or a place to stay

>many children in this lifestyle wind up in abusive relationships

-this causes leaving the streets that much harder

>although many laws have been past against this, teenage prostitutes are most often seen as teenage criminals rather than underage victims

>child sex trafficking has grown in the last years

-mostly due to the internet

-a detective stated on this matter “ ‘ Gangs used to sell drugs, now many of them have shifted to selling girls because it’s just as lucrative but far less risky’ ”.

>as the economy is in tights places these childrens’ care afterwards is also very difficult

-states are continuing to cut;

+mental heath services

+child welfare agencies 

+residential programs where the children can receive counseling

>after living in prostitution children begin to trust no one

-this results in difficulties with the authorities and crimes which leads to being back on the street

Sold- RESPONSE

The gripping and terrifying novel Sold follows the life of a young thirteen year old girl, named Lakshimi, as she gets sold into sex slavery by her own father. Lakshimi begins her life growing up in Nepal much like many other girls of her time. She lives with her step father, mother, and baby brother. All her family wants is the simple things in life, but as Lakshimi’s step father gambles away all their money, they are desperately poor. Because of this, Lakshimi’s step father is constantly threatening to sell her away for money for the family, but the love from her mother protects her. Yet one time this doesn’t stand up quite strong enough and Lakshimi gets sold to a women referred to in the book as “auntie”. Both Lakshimi and her family are under the impression that when she goes with this women to the city she will become a maid and money will be sent back to her family. Lakshimi is very excited and happy to help out her family and one day return to them having given them a better life.

Many girls all over the world are being tricked into thinking much the same thing. They are told that if she go to the city they can be a maid and help support their family. Unfortunately, this is far from the truth.

For weeks Lakshimi travels with Auntie to the city. One day Auntie sells her to another man Lakshimi calls “Uncle Husband”. Uncle Husband and Lakshimi travel for weeks more, crossing borders illegally by claiming they are married. Lakshimi doesn’t understand quite what is going on, but she is too swept up by the exciting and scary nature of the passing cities. Lastly, Uncle Husband and Lakshimi land in one of the largest cities in Nepal. Unknowingly to Lakshimi, she gets sold to a large brothel where she will most likely spend the rest of her life.

This trip is continuing being traveled by hundreds right now. These people are not tourists, but rather children walking into a never ending trap of hell.

The brothel was run by a women named “Mumtaz”. First Lakshimi gets brand new clothing and she cannot understand how she can do maid work in such nice articles. But this question gets covered up when she is brought into a room with a man who tries to take advantage of her. Unfortunately, Lakshimi makes it nearly impossible to do so. Why unfortunately? Because due to this she gets locked up in a cage of a room without food or company. Weeks pass and Lakshimi begins to go mad. It is explained to her that she owes Mumtaz thousand of dollars and must pay her back by doing this work. Once the money is paid off she may go home. Lakshimi sees know other choice.

This decision is given to many kids right now. And although it seems like the worst choice in the world to agree to sell your innocence and your life, the only other option is definite death.

Once Lakshimi proved herself loyal she was given the privilege to live in a public room. Although she was now living with other girls where friendships were made, it was still an empty life. In this new bedroom there were four beds separated by sheets hanging which were drawn back when “visitors” came. Occasionally she could sneak a condom in from other girls, but men rarely agreed to wear them. Because of this she had to wash herself after each visitor with water to prevent sickness and infections. But as we know quite well today, this does not work. Heavy makeup was worn daily to make the men even more attracted to the girls. The girls would do anything they could to get as many costumers as possible. Soon Lakshimi finds out that Mumtaz lied to her and that she will be living there forever. The only hope of leaving was if she came down with a terrible sickness or grew too old to work. Only then she would be sold to another brothel or thrown out on the street to meet her death.

Although these two things seem like the only option for freedom a third one meets her face to face one day. American men raid the brothel, taking as many girls as possible. One of these girls is Lakshimi. It is then understood by the reader that that Lakshimi was taken to a safe shelter where she could get a help and have the hope of a new life.

Although this may seem like a mere summary of a fictional novel I read, it is much more than that. Months of research went into creating this book to make it as realistic as humanly possible. Thus this story is the same as thousands of girls across the world. It was a privilege to be able to step inside this world and live through this horrible experience as many are at this moment.

Sold- NOTES

-girl
    ~thirteen
    ~named Lakshimi
-lives in Nepal
    ~with step father, mother, and baby brother
    ~VERY POOR
        +step father gambles away money
        +all family wants is the simple things in life such as a tin roof and food
-step father constantly threatens to sell Lakshimi
    ~mother does not let him
    ~Lakshimi thinks it will be very good for her family
-eventually Lakshimi gets sold to a women referred to as “auntie”
    ~Lakshimi and her family are under the impression that she will be a maid when     she gets to the city
-Lakshimi travels for weeks to the city
    ~gets transferred to a man referred to as “Uncle Husband”
    ~crosses borders illegally by calling herself Uncle Husband’s wife
    ~travels through cities in amazement and horror
    ~lastly gets sold into a brothel
-The brothel:
    ~run by a women the girls there call Mumtaz
    ~Lakshimi gets new clothes
    ~still believes she will be a maid
    ~ soon finds out what the truth is
    ~refuses to practice this sex game and goes without food for weeks locked up in     a cage
        +goes crazy
    ~it is explained to her that she owes Mumtaz thousands of dollars and once she     pays it off she may go home
        +Lakshimi begins her work hesitantly
-In the brothel:
    ~once lakshimi proved herself loyal she could live in a public room with other     girls
    ~in the bedrooms there were about four beds separated by sheets hung up to     make     privacy when they were in business
    ~friendships developed
    ~she was taught to clean herself after every “visitor” as to not get sick or an     infection
    ~occasionally she could sneak a condom in but men almost always refused to     wear them
    ~all girls wore heavy makeup and would do anything to get as many visitors as     possible
    -Lakshimi soon finds that Mumtaz has lied to her and she will never be able to go     home     again
        +Mumtaz will wait until she is too sick or too old then either sell her to         another brothel or throw her out of the street where she will meet her fait
-for some girls brothels were the best options, even better than their homes
-a raid happens at the brothel by americans where Lakshimi gets taken
    ~brought to a shelter and given a new path for an additional life

Our Officials Are Unaware- RESPONSE

    News reports with statistics such as this news stories are huge eye openers. I think about hearing stories of females getting raped once and having their life totally change. Not to belittle this of-course, but imagine that happening to you 6,000 times in just five years! How would your life be different then? How would you be different then?


    Other then the statistics, this report held names of many organizations and acts (such as the Trafficking Victims Protection Act  and the Shared Hope International organization) that I can use for further back up information and news.


    This news story taught me a lot about the child sex trafficking world. The most amazing thing I learned was the basic fact that the law enforcement knows almost nothing about what is going on right under their noses. If sickens me to think I know more about such a matter then the people that have been put on this Earth to protect us.


    As well as teaching me new things, this article also forces me to ask more questions. How is it possible that law enforcement don’t know about such a serious matter? How can we educate them better? What is the Trafficking Victims Protection Act?  What is the organization Shared Hope International?  Why are there only five shelters for the victims of child sex trafficking in America when it is one of the the worst countries for this crime? What is the worst country in the world? What are the other types of slavery in the world other than sexual? How did Linda Smith come up with her detection list?


    I look forward to answering these questions as well on looking up background information including the Shared Hope International organization, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, and Linda Smith.

Our Officials Are Unaware- NOTES

>most Americans know little to no information on the problem our world has with child sex-trafficking

    -this includes government officials
>about 100,00 American children are forced into prostitution each year
    -these children are raped about 6,00 times over a course of five years
    -children are defined as any young person under the age of 18
>America is one of the worst countries in the world for this crime
>Trafficking Victims Protection Act is unknown to most law enforcement
    -this has resulted in:
        + the governments inability to enforce these regulations
        + children being arrested for prostitution despite the fact that it was         against their will and goes against this protection act
>There are only five shelters in the US to house victims of sex trafficking that provide healing, restoration, and help with a new life
    -these shelters are in:
        +Los Angeles
        +New York
        +Dallas
        +Texas
        +San Francisco
> Children can be exploited through:
    -prostitution
    -pornography
    -stripping/sexual dancing
>Just in 2009 the US State Department gave information to show that about 12.8 million adults and children across the world are trapped in slavery
    -1.39 million if these victims are trapped in sexual slavery
>It is being said that the feelings during and after one of enslaved in this modern sex slavery is similar to the slavery of humans back in the 19th century due to their race
>Unfortunately minor sex trafficking is treated as the same crime as child sexual abuse although they are two very different crimes
    -sex trafficking is severely misunderstood
>Linda Smith (a Republican congresswomen from Washington) created a list of notes on identifying children caught in child prostitution
    -a foster child talks about having an older boyfriend or having sex
    -a child going to a strip club
    -a child talking to a counselor about having sex with an older man/boyfriend
    -child has tattoos of a man's name
    -child uses words usually only used in sex trafficking industries


>>reports taken from Shared Hope International (SHI)




(words and phrases in italics are information that needs to be looked up for further details)

Five Paragraph Introduction

Personal Interest – Will this issue, person, or topic keep me curious and eager for 5 or 6 months? Furthermore, how might this research and knowledge gained impact my future plans?

As sex trafficking around the world has become increasingly more common it has rose to my attention and interest. It intrigues me to find girls my age, and even younger, to be sold into a life of unhealthy and dangerous sex. This topic puts my life in great perspective and I look forward to learning more about it and what can be done to help the horrors of this come to an end.

Currency - Is enough happening or changing for this subject so that tracking will seem worthwhile and interesting?

As of now, law enforcement is doing everything they can to end this crime. Unfortunately though, it will take years and hundreds of more attempts to ever end it completely, and even then it will most likely continue. There is constantly new cases found of these events happening across America and beyond to add to my report and increase my knowledge on the topic.

 Information available – Am I going to find lots of interesting information on this subject in many places?  Will it be easy to find?

As these lawful acts are becoming more common the reporting and news on them has rose as well. Thus I so far have not had any trouble finding information. So far I haven’t even just found news stories but also facts, opinions, history, even movies, pictures, and songs all about this horrible sport like crime that is being committed on our future.

Ongoing – Will this issue, person, or topic provide a basis for ongoing research? Will time make a difference or will the information be static?

As of now the information about this topic has been relatively static. New facts and news is found often, but it is not very often anything we haven't seen before. Although this is true, this does not make the topic unable to be researched throughout the year and continue on being interesting, entertaining, and intriguing.

Challenging – Will this issue, person, or topic stretch me and force me to think in new ways?

As I have not done any research on this in my previous lifetime as well as the fact that I have not had any life experiences such as this, this topic will stretch me to look at the world in different ways. I look forward to having to expand my mind to understand the ins and outs of this world and how it could come to be in our time.